Goose Creek Island becomes last Pamlico fire district to get tax

Published: Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 03:56 PM.

BAYBORO — Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department has become the last of nine districts in Pamlico County to attain a fire tax as a source of revenue.

A fire tax for the district received approval this week by the Pamlico County commissioners.

The 27-man department will be funded through a 6-cent tax on each $100 valuation for about 800 properties in the northeast section of the county. The major communities are Hobucken and Lowland.

The tax will generate about $25,000 annually for the department, which, like other volunteer fire departments, receives about $7,000 in county funding each year.

Chief William Rowe told the county commissioners Monday night that insurance and fire association dues each year totaled more than $8,000.

County commissioners have talked for several years in budget workshops about incrementally decreasing the county contributions, with departments working toward being self-sustaining.

The Goose Creek department did not take the proposed tax to a vote of residents, opting instead for a straight commissioners’ vote. Several other volunteer departments asked for and received a county-approved tax without a public vote.

BAYBORO — Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department has become the last of nine districts in Pamlico County to attain a fire tax as a source of revenue.

A fire tax for the district received approval this week by the Pamlico County commissioners.

The 27-man department will be funded through a 6-cent tax on each $100 valuation for about 800 properties in the northeast section of the county. The major communities are Hobucken and Lowland.

The tax will generate about $25,000 annually for the department, which, like other volunteer fire departments, receives about $7,000 in county funding each year.

Chief William Rowe told the county commissioners Monday night that insurance and fire association dues each year totaled more than $8,000.

County commissioners have talked for several years in budget workshops about incrementally decreasing the county contributions, with departments working toward being self-sustaining.

The Goose Creek department did not take the proposed tax to a vote of residents, opting instead for a straight commissioners’ vote. Several other volunteer departments asked for and received a county-approved tax without a public vote.

Rowe said there had been two community meetings on the matter, with a handful of property owners opposed to the tax.

The commissioners’ vote in favor of the tax was 5-1, with a no vote by board Chairman Ann Holton. She expressed reservations since the proposal did not go before a vote of property owners.

Commissioner Carl Ollison did not vote, saying that he had done some rather extensive work for the fire department and did not want a perception of impropriety. A member of the county legal staff said there was nothing wrong with Ollison voting and that it was just a matter of the Mesic commissioners’ comfort level on the matter.

County Manager Tim Buck said the Goose Creek area individual properties numbered about 800 and notice letters of the pending tax were mailed, with little or no response.

At the public hearing, about 10 island residents attended, but only Rowe offered comments.

Commissioner Paul Delamar of Oriental noted that the 6-cent tax would cost about $60 annually, or $5 a month on a $100,000 property for fire protection.

Buck said the taxable value of the island properties was about $37 million.

It was noted that different fire districts in the county generate varying amounts with a fire tax, depending on the tax base.